Crabb massacre

Crabb Massacre
Part of the Reform War
Map Showing the location of the Crabb Massacre
Date April 1–8, 1857 Location Caborca, Sonora, Mexico Result Mexican victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico Tohono O'odham
Commanders and leaders
Henry A. Crabb	Ignacio Pesqueira Hilario Gabilonda
Strength
1,000	1,200
Casualties and losses
87 killed[1]	189 killed or wounded[1]

The Crabb Massacre was the culmination of the eight-day Battle of Caborca. It was fought between Mexico and their O'odham allies against irregular forces from the United States in April 1857. Due to the outbreak of the Reform War in Mexico between conservatives and liberals (1858-1860), the rebel Ignacio Pesqueira invited the U.S. politician Henry A. Crabb to colonize the northern frontier region in the state of Sonora. The colonists could help Pesqueira fight in the civil war and against the Apache.

The idea of an American intervention was unpopular among Pesqueira's supporters, and when Crabb arrived in Mexico, his command was attacked and defeated by Pesqueira's liberal forces. About 50 of the 85 men survived the battle only to be executed by the Mexicans, including Crabb himself.^[2]